People will enjoy the lights, music and thousands of hand-carved pumpkins during Rise of the Jack O'Lanterns at Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge Oct. 1-Nov. 1 and Santa Anita Park in Arcadia Oct. 9-Nov. 1.

A pumpkin sculpture of a white rhino at Rise of the Jack O'Lanterns. The event will be held at Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge Oct. 1-Nov. 1 and Santa Anita Park in Arcadia Oct. 9-Nov. 1.

Every year on Halloween night, Linus van Pelt of the classic Peanuts crew waits in the pumpkin patch for the Great Pumpkin to make his appearance. But he never shows up.

Well, Linus could save himself all that disappointment if he’d just check out the Rise of the Jack O’Lanterns. The annual event has proven so popular that it has expanded to two area venues: Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge starting Oct. 1 and Santa Anita Park in Arcadia staring Oct. 9. Both Rise events run through Nov. 1.

“We are lucky enough to do something that relates to one of the most loved holidays around: Halloween,” said event organizer Debbi Katz. “We get the pleasure of putting smiles on people’s faces with jack o’ lanterns. We have something for everyone and that’s one of the largest pieces to our success. Your child quality can come and enjoy the show.”

The event boasts about 5,000 hand-carved pumpkins displayed along an easy 1/3 mile walking trail. There are sculptures, such as larger-than-life dinosaurs and dragons, as well as depictions of classic cars, under the sea elements and more.

This year there will also be 100-pound pumpkins bearing images from pop culture, like movie stars and video games, and original music will fill the air.

“It’s the best job in the world to do this because it’s fun and it’s not scary so everybody can come and enjoy it. It’s an event that the family can come back and enjoy year after year.” Katz said.

The pumpkins are real and fresh

Most of the pumpkins on display are real and delivered to each site from farms all over the United States, although there are a few replica casts that have been hand-carved for use in areas where safety is concerned or to obtain a special effect, said Rise of the jack o’lanterns master carver Tom Olton.

“There is always somebody working on something from weeks before the show opens to the very last night,” Olton said. “Because of the nature of the medium, we must work continuously throughout the month.”

As a pumpkin ages, it is replaced with a new one so everything looks fresh throughout the shows’ runs.

For those who leave inspired to try creating their own jack o’ lantern, Olton dares you to get creative.

“If there’s one tip for people at home, it’s push yourself. Go online, take a look at some of the stuff other people are doing out there… then give it shot,” Olton said. “If it doesn’t come out well it will be gone in a couple of days anyway and that’s reason enough to try again.”

Tickets for Rise are online only

Tickets for Rise of the Jack O’Lanterns are available only online and are not sold at the door, Katz said. They are also timed so you can view the displays safely and without being overcrowded.

If you want to go to Rise of the Jack O’Lanterns

When: 6:30-10:30 p.m. Thursday-Sunday Oct. 1-Nov. 1.

Where: Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada Flintridge.

When: 6:30-10:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday Oct. 9-Nov. 1.

Where: Santa Anita Park, 285 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia.

Tickets: $24-$28, free for children 2 and under. Available online only, no ticket sales at the door.

Michelle Mills has been an entertainment and features reporter for the Southern California News Group since 1999. She has interviewed such notables as "Weird Al" Yankovic, Glen Campbell, Alice Cooper, Debbie Allen, Ernest Borgnine (during an earthquake) and Adam Young (Owl City). She was the 31st Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade Queen reigning 2007-2009. She is a professional belly dancer (swordwork is her specialty) and also studies Polynesian and Tahitian dance.

Join the Conversation

We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. Although we do not pre-screen comments, we reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.

If you see comments that you find offensive, please use the “Flag as Inappropriate” feature by hovering over the right side of the post, and pulling down on the arrow that appears. Or, contact our editors by emailing moderator@scng.com.